Check-row corn-planter.



Patented Oct. 8, I90].

T. M. HENDRICKSON.

CHECK BOW CORN PLANTER.

(Application filed m a, 1901. (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. 684,238. Patented Oct. 8, 19m. T. m. HENDRICKSUN.

CHECK ROW CORN PLANTER.

(Application filed .Miay 8, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

6'2 JQL t I \\97 l Y J2 I 7 9 6/ a R 40 0O a dd 4 32 0 6'6 0 m g a 0 v I 7 1 $4 74: J3 i I" 74 x Y M92556 JZOMJZLMMWL 9 g by 1 I I 1 No. 684,238. Patented Oct. 8, I90l. T. M. HENDRICKSON.

CHECK ROW CORN PLANTER.

(Application filed Kay 8, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Wiigasses Igxpzgiar.

la Ty l v 1.401 I I I v I disks and seed-valves.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

THOMAS M. IIENDRIOKSON, OF LEES SUMMIT, MISSOURI.

CHECK-ROW CORN-PLANTER.

$PECIFIGA'IIQN formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 684,238, dated October 8, 1901.

Application filed May 8, 1901.

T to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. HENDRICK- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lees Summit, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Check-Row Corn-Planter, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved check-row corn-planter; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top plan view of a check-row corn-planter constructed in accordance with myinventiou. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 4 is a sectional view through one of the seed-hoppers, showing the bottom thereof and the seed-disk. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through one of the seedhoppers and seed-spouts. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View of one of the supporting covering-wheels and the sleeve on which it rotates. Fig. 7 is a detail top plan view of the chain for conveying power from the main shaft to the shaft which actuates the seed- Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same. Fig.9 is a detail hori- Zontal sectional view taken on a plane intersecting one of the said hoppers. Fig. 10 is a detail view showing one of the sleeve-bearings, a supporting-wheel journaled thereon, and the vertically-movable power-shaft extending through the said sleeve-bearing, said shaft being shown in cross-section and in two positions-one in fulllines and one in dotted lines.

The front or runner frame 1 is of suitable construction, provided with the tongue 2, shoes or runners 3 for opening the furrows, and the seed-spouts at, which deliver the seeds into the furrow. In suitable bearings 5, with which the said frame is provided, is journaled a shaft 6. The said shaft extends transversely across the rear portion of the front frame, is disposed in advance of the seedspouts, and is provided at its ends on the outer sides of the seed-spouts with radial tappet-arms '7. On the said shaft on the inner sides of said tappet-arms 7 and ata suitable distance therefrom are tappets 8. A tubular sleeve 9 is keyed or otherwise secured on the Serial No. 59,298 (No model.)

shaft 6 and rotates therewith. A sprocket wheel-1O is loose on said sleeve, and the latter is provided on opposite sides of said sprocket-wheel with oppositelyprojecting tappets 11. At the upper end of each seedspout is a circular base-plate 12, provided with radial arms 13 14. A seed-disk 15 revolves on the upper side of each of said baseplates and has its bearing on a stud 16, which projects from the center thereof. Hence the seed cups or openings 17 in each of said seeddisks successively pass over the upper ends of the seed-spouts. On each of the seeddisks is disposed a seed-hopper18.- The bottom of the hopper is provided with openings 19, through which seeds may pass into the seed cups or openings 17. That portion of the bottom of each hopper which is disposed above a seed-spout is iniperforate and forms a cut-o ff. Hence as each of the seed-disks rotates the successive cups or openings 17 thereof drop seed-corn into the seed-spout below. The seed-disks 15 are provided with peripheral ratchet-spurs 20, which correspond in number with the seed openings or cups 17 thereof. Each of the seed-hoppers is provided at its base with projecting arms 2122. The latter are pivotally connected to the arms 14 of base-plates 12, whereby the hoppers are hinged at their lower sides to the said base-plates and are adapted to be opened therefrom to uncover the seed -.disks 15. When the hoppers are disposed in their operative vertical positions shown in the drawings, the arms 21 thereof bear on the arms 13 of the base-plates and are secured to the latter by bolts 23 or other suitable devices.

In each of the seed-spouts is a valve 24, p0 sitioned as shown in Fig. 5, pivotally mounted between the sides of the seedspouts, as at 25, and adapted to alternately close and open the upper and lower ends of the spout. From the rearside of each valve 2st projects an arm 26. A tappet-link 27 is disposed transversely across the front side of each seedspout, is

supported on the bearing 5 thereof, and at its inner end pivoted to said hearing, as at 28, and the outer end of the saidtappet-link, which is disposed in the path of the rev0lu ble tappets 8, which are carried by the shaft 6, is connected to the arm 26, as by a rod or link 29. A spring 30 is connected to each of the. tappet-links 27 and draws rearwardly thereon, and thereby causes each tappet-link t0 normally maintain the valve 24, which is connected thereto in the position shown in Fig. 5, with the lower end of the seed-sp0ut closed and the upperend thereof open. The ratchet 0r tappet teeth 20 of the seed-disks project into the paths of the tappet-arms 7, carried by the 'revoluble shaft 6, and hence said tappet-armson the rotation of said shaft revolve the seed-disks bya 'step-by-step movement, and the links 27,which are operated by the tappets 3 simultaneously with the partial step-by-step rotation of the disks, cause the lower ends of the valves to open the lower ends of the seed-spouts and drop the seeds which have been accumulated thereon, while the upper ends of said valves close the upper ends of said spouts and receive the seeds dropped by the seed-disks, and as the said tappets 8 pass the said links 27 the latter are by the springs 30, as hereinbefore described, caused to restore the valves to their initial positions. (Shown in Fig. 5.)

To the rear side of the front or runner frame 1 is hinged a rear or wheel frame 31, as at 32. The side bars 33 of said rear frame are provided with horizontally and transversely disposed cylindrical sleeves 34 of suitable length and diameter. Supporting and covering wheels 35, which run immediately in rear of the seed-spouts and furrow-opening shoe, are journaled and revolve on'the said sleeves 34, as is shown in detail in Fig. 4. A power shaft 36 extends through the said sleeves 34. The diameter thereof is very much less than the interior diameter of said sleeves, said power-shaftbeing thereby adapted to rise and fall in said sleeves, and said power-shaft is provided with a sprocket-wheel 37. At the ends of said power-shaft, at a suitable distance from the outer sides of the supporting and coveringavheels 35, are traction-wheels 38, which may be either of the form here shown or of any other suitable form and which carry marking-blades 39. Said blades as they come in contact with the loose soil mark the same, and the diameter of said tractionwheels is such and the parts of the machine are so proportioned and adjusted that the marks made by the said blades 39 aline with the hills planted by the seed-planting mechanism hereinbefore described.

I A cross-bar 40 connects the side bars 33 of the rear frame at a suitable distance in advance of the centers of the sleeves 34. Bearing-collars 41 are disposed on said shaft 36, suitable bearing-collars 42 are disposed on said bar 40, and rod s 43 connect said collars 41 42. Thereby said shaft 36 is flexibly connected to the rear frame and is adapted to move vertically independently thereof. A

' slack endless sprocket-chain 44 connects the sprocket-wheel 37 on shaft 36 with the sprocket-wheel 10 on shaft 6 and serves to convey power from the former to the latter, as will be understood, said sprocket-chain thereof.

step movement. A spring '46, which is:car-

ried by the frontframe 1, bears against the upper end of the tappet-arms 11when thelatter are disengaged by the tappets 45 of;

.70 Y 7 the tappet arms 11 and partly rotate the same, and thereby rotate the shaft 6 by a step-by chain 44 and prevent idle rotation or move ment of the shaft '6, aswill be understood,

said spring yielding and permitting thetapr 7 pet-arms 11 to pass the same when said tappet-arms are engaged by the tappets 45 0f said chain 44.

as at 48. carries a weighted roller 49, which bears on An arm 47 has its outer end: I, pivotally connected to one side of frame 31,

The free inner end of said arm the upper lead of chain 44 and tightens the same to the requisite'extent to keep said.- chain from slipping on the sprocket-wheel 10.

It will be understood from the foregoing that f.

the sprocket-wheel 10,being loose on the shaft 6, is continuously in operation when connect- "f ed by the chain 44 to the sprocket-wheel37. and that the shaft 6, the rotation of which is i arrested by the Spring 5, VOlVes bya step-gi 5 by-step movement only when the tappets 45 of chain 44 engage and turn the tappets'llr Power is communicated to the seed-dropping mechanism by the traction-wheels which 7 I carry the markers, and since the shaft of said traction-wheels.is capable of vertical movement independently of the supporting and covering wheels said traction-wheels are not Ioc 2 affected by inequalities in the groundand the hills are planted in check-rows regardless of inequalities in the surface of the ground.

A longitudinally-disposed arch-bar connects the center of the rear cross-bar 51 of frame 31 and the center of the cross-bar 40. r e

segment 56 is at the front end of bar; Said lever 54 has a spring-pressed dog 57 of the" Foot-rests 52 are secured on and 7' V A. '5, A rac-kusual construction, which engages said se f ment-rack 56, and thereby locks said lever-,1" All arm 58 prof a at any desired adjustment. jects downwardly and rearwardly fromthe tongue 2. Said arm is connected by a link 59 to the segment of lever 54. A cord or V V rope 60 has one end attached to said segment 55. Said cord or rope passes over the sheave 53, from thence downward and rearward -un' der the power-shaft 36, and its rear end is attached to the arched bar 50, as at 61. Hence by moving the upper end of the lever 54 rear- Wardly said cord or rope is tightened, thereby raising the shaft 36 and the tractionwheels 38, carried thereby, to raise the latter from the ground, and hence throw the seed- 5 planting mechanism out of gear, and this movement of the lever 54 causes the link 59 and arm 58 to raise the rear end of the tongue 2, the front end of the latter being supported by the team, and hence the front frame 1, together with the furrow-openers, seed-spouts, and seed-dropping mechanisms carried thereby, is raised, so that the furrow-openers or shoes are cleared from the ground.

A seat 62 for the driver is supported above the bar 50. A rock-shaft 63 is journaled in suitable bearings 64 near the rear side of the rear frame 31. Said rock-shaft is provided at its ends with suitable scrapers 65, which are adapted to scrape the peripheries of the wheels 35. Said shaft is further provided with an arm 66, which depends therefrom. A foot-lever 67 is pivotally connected to the bar 50, as at 68, and is connected by a rod 69 to said arm 66. Hence the scrapers may be readily applied to the wheels 35 when necessary to clear the wheels of adhering earth.

A marker-bar 70 has its inner end pivotally mounted on the center of the rear side of rear frame 31, as at 71, and to the inner end of said marker-bar is attached a sheave or drum 72, which turns therewith. A direction-sheave 73 is disposed under the rear side of frame 31, at the center thereof. An operating-cord 7a is attached to the drum 72, passes under and engages the direction-sheave 73, and the front end of said operating-cord is attached to the segment 55 of the handlever 54:. Hence when said hand-lever is moved rearward, as hereinbefore described, to put the corn-planter out of operation the marker-bar '70 is raised thereby and supported in a vertical position. The marker-bar is adapted to be swung to either side of the planter and is provided at its outer end with a runner or shoe 75, which is adapted to mark out a furrow parallel with the furrows which are in course of being planted by the machine. On the rear side of the frame 31, at the sides thereof, are arms or hangers 76, which support the marker-bar 70 in operative position when disposed on either side of the machine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In combination with a seeddropping disk, a shaft, a step-by-step mechanism connecting the same to the seed-dropping disk, a power element, and a step-by-step mechanism connecting the same to said shaft, an accumulating-valve, having an arm, a spring to close said valve, a pivoted tappet-link, a rod connecting said tappet-link to said arm, and tappets on said shaft to engage and operate said tappet-link, and thereby operate said accumulating-valve, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a seed-dropping disk having tappets, a shaft having tappets, to engage those of the disk and rotate the latter by a step-by-step movement, tappet-arms on said shaft, a wheel loose on said shaft, and an endless traveling power element engaging and rotating said wheel, said power element having tappets to engage and operate said tappet-arms and thereby rotate said shaft by a step-by-step movement, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a seeddropping disk having tappets, a shaft having tappets to engage those of the disk and rotate the latter by a step-by-step movement, tappet-arms on said shaft, a wheel'loose on said shaft, an endless traveling power element engaging and rotating said wheel, said power element having tappets to engage and operate said tappet-arms and thereby rotate said shaft by a step-by-step movement, and a spring secured to a fixed point and interposed in the path of said tappet-arms, to engage the latter and thereby prevent idle rotation of said shaft, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a seed dropping disk having tappets, a shaft having tappets to engage those of said disk and thereby ro tate the latter by a step-by-step movement, a seed-spout, a valve therein, tappets 8 on said shaft, a pivoted link in the path of said tappets 8, a spring to normally close said valve in the lower end of said spout, and a connection between said pivoted link and said valve to operate the latter, substantially as described.

5. In a planter, the combination of a front frame carrying the seed-dropping mechanism, and a shaft 6 to actuate said seed-dropping mechanism, said shaft having tappets 11, a sprocket-wheel 10 on said shaft, a rear frame flexibly connected to the front frame and having supporting-wheels, a shaft 36, movable Vertically independently of said rear frame and having traction devices whereby it is ro tated, a sprocket-wheel 37 on said shaft 36, and a sprocket-chain connecting said sprocketwheels, said sprocket-chain having tappets to engage and operate the tappets 11 on shaft 6 and thereby rotate the latter by a step-bystep movement, substantially as described.

6. In a planter, the combination of a front frame carrying the seed-dropping mechanism, and a shaft 6 to actuate said seed-dropping mechanism, said shaft having tappets 11, a sprocket-Wheel 10 on said shaft, a rear frame flexibly connected to the front frame and having supporting-wheels, a shaft 36, movable vertically independently of said rear frame and having traction devices whereby it is rotated, a sprocket-Wheel 37 on said shaft 36, a slack sprocket-chain connecting said sprocket-wheels, said sprocket-chain having tappets to engage and operate the tappets 11 on shaft 6 and thereby rotate the latter by a step-by-step movement, and a tightener bear ing on a lead of said chain, substantially as described.

7. In a planter, the combination of a front frame having furrow-openers and seed-dropping mechanisms, a shaft 6, carried by said front frame, connections between the seeddropping mechanisms and said shaft whereby the former are actuated by the latter, a rear frame flexibly connected to said front frame and havin g supporting-wheels, a shaft 36 ear TIO ried by said rear frame and movable verti- In testimony that claim the foregoing as Y cally independently thereof, traction devices my own I have hereto afifixed my signature in on said shaft 36 to rotate the same, powerthe presence of two witnesses. V

conveying connections between said shaft 36 V THOMAS M. HENDRICKSON. 5 and said shaft 6, and means to raise and lower NVitnesses:

said front frame and said shaft 36, for the WILLIAM URQUHART,

purpose set forth, substantially as described. H. H. JMGDOWELL. 

